By David Robin

The most exciting part of the last Battle of the Bands, the semifinals, was the realization that the Battle of the Bands finals would only be three weeks after. Those 21 days could not have passed slower, although there was amazing weather during the last few weeks. On Thursday, April 24, the wait was over and the Battle of the Bands finale was going to take place.

The night began at 8:00 pm. I took a spot next to the stage, just like during the semifinals. One major difference with the finals was that only three bands were playing, so only one stage was needed. The advantage of this setup was that people would only need to pay attention to one stage and would not have to move around to see different bands. However, bands would need to setup so there would be some downtime between each of the three bands’ set. Fortunately, there were raffles throughout the night for tickets for the “Grapes of Wrath” performances on campus and other prizes. These raffles were during the intermissions and it made the concert flow much better. There were many guest judges including Johanna Sousa, Professor Paul Bingham, and Mark Mendoza, from Twisted Sister. In addition, the host was a personality from WBLI, the radio station.

Honus Wagner was the first band to perform and they played a great set. The three-piece band contains Gary Jacobelli on drums and vocals, James Pelowski on guitar and vocals, and Mike Taffet on bass and backup vocals. Mike mentioned how they wanted to play completely different songs for the finals. While some new songs were played, they did repeat a few songs from the Semifinals. However, it was a good way to keep the band fresh and led to an energetic set.  They played mostly original songs like “If I Had the World in my Hands I Would Throw it Away”, “Come Get it”, “Just”,  “On My Knees”,  “Philip H Chesterborough” and “Dreams”. They also played “Black Crow Blues”, a Bob Dylan cover. Taffet kept up his standard of crowd interaction, hopping off of the stage and playing in the crowd. At one point one of my friends put a sombrero on Taffet’s head and he played for a few minutes while wearing it.  The crowd seemed into the music and Honus Wagner received a great crowd reaction. After their set, the next band, Thursday was Cloudy, set up for their set while the first raffles of the night took place.

Thursday was Cloudy is a four piece band with Phil on Guitar, drums and vocals, Dave on guitar and vocals, and Tim on bass. According to their MySpace, they have a self-titled album coming out on August 16. They played a solid set like last time, repeating a few of their songs from the semi-finals mixed with some new songs. Their music contained many catchy guitar riffs that led into nice breakdowns even though their singing style was much less hardcore. Many of their songs had lyrics that were described by some as emo, but, which blended very well with the hard-hitting guitar parts. They did not really move much on stage, but showed energy with their expressions, and this radiated into the crowd. After playing for well over a half hour, they departed and Mother F’Nature set up for their set.

After just barely losing another raffle (I was two numbers away!), I listend as Mother F’Nature began their set and it felt like they brought the same energy they had from the semifinals into the finals. Mother F’Nature is Patrice Zapiti on vocals and acoustic guitar, Dan Wortley on bass, Max Tieze on guitar, and Dan Martingano on bass. They started off with technical problems, as there was too much feedback on one of the guitar amps and this led to a feedback chant from some in the crowd. They thought they fixed the problem, but then after one song, realized that there was still a problem with the guitar amp. Patrice and the rest of Mother F’Nature handled the situation very well, and after a few minutes of people holding their breaths, they were able to continue their set. Mother F’Nature seemed to have a strong fanbase, as there were a few people right in the front just jamming out to the music. In addition, Mother F’Nature realized that they wanted more fan support and summoned the crowd closer to the stage, which led to a more intimate feel. They continued their set, mixing both songs played at the semifinals and newer songs. By the end of their set, the whole crowd was into it and this led to their final song, “Misery Business”, a cover of the Paramore song. Many people in the crowd knew the song and sang along, which was a strong ending to the band’s set.

While waiting as the judges to deliberated, concertgoers enjoyed another raffle that I just barely lost. If only I came one minute earlier, I would have won an iPod shuffle. Either way, the judges soon came to a decision, and the result was read with the second runner up first. This lead to an anticlimactic confusion, because once the first runner up was announced, everybody knew who the winner was. Honus Wagner was the second runner up and Thursday was Cloudy was the first runner up. See how anticlimactic that was? Mother F’Nature won the Stony Brook 2008 Battle of the Bands which led to a loud ovation from some in the crowd. Each band won a monetary prize and Mother F’Nature singer, Patrice, announced that the money would help pay for the broken guitar amp and a new guitar plug.

While this event was a step in the right direction for the Stony Brook music scene, more events like this need to occur. Once again, people came to the Black Box Theatre in the Tabler Arts Center to see a competition and hear live music. If more concerts happen on campus and attendance continues to skyrocket, then Stony Brook may one day be the next SUNY Purchase. Stony Brook needs people who have a passion to play music and people who want to hear them play. All it takes is balls, sweat and creativity.

By Doug Cion

When I heard there was to be a drag show happening in Tabler on April 10, I figured that this would be a great opportunity for me to get involved with the activities on campus.  When I arrived at the Tabler Arts Center, a place I have never been before (I have passed the dreaded steps many times but never ventured up them), I knew I was in for something different.  I am as straight as they come, but I am all about one’s freedom.

For the members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance (LGBTA) to have gotten people involved with their club and had fun doing it, I give them my utmost respect.  The show, in fact, was something different and quite enjoyable.  The audience laughed, clapped and danced while the performers on stage truly brought a new meaning to the term ‘interpretive dance’.  The end of the show was the icing on the cake, when the people in the audience were invited on stage to flaunt their inner gay.  However, it seemed very fitting that the final act, which was the audience participation was entitled “Sexy Party.”  I have not attended a sexier party since the last time I sat in front of my computer.

The show consisted of ten acts and then the audience participation.  The first thing I would like to bring to the reader’s attention is the ability of the Press’ Alex Nagler and his showmanship.  Alex is a true showman.  He entertained the crowd as the crew was setting up more chairs for the relentless flow of viewers, kept everyone’s spirits up and controlled the atmosphere of the audience.  Let’s face it, the people who had come to the show knew what they were coming to see, but Alex made sure everyone was prepped and ready to have fun.  Upon Alex’s return to his original position as sound guy (he does it all), the two drag king MCs took over.  Overall, they did a bang-up job keeping the show going, as well as impersonating men.  Their jokes had their moments, but when they started losing the audience, they promptly kept the show moving and got to the performances.  When they introduced the audience to the character of Mixie, to get the show started, they delivered a taste of what to expect.  It created anticipation, which is always a good thing.

The first performance was one of the best of the night.  They kicked the show off right, with an A Night at the Roxbury parody by David and Michaelmangelo.  Dressed in sporty shorts and a batman t-shirt, they made a gayer Batman than Joel Schumacher could have ever created.  With the audience clapping and the performers skipping together and bopping their heads, this performance lubed up the audience for the rest of the night.  From there, Jay-X and Heyonce Squared (a lineup which consisted of one woman impersonating Jay-Z and two men as Beyonce) did a mock performance of “Crazy in Love.”  It was quick, funny and it brought out the first drag queen performance.  By including props like stripper poles, the performers in this act made sure the audience would remember their segment.  The third performance brought out the Backdoor Boys and their rendition of cheesy boy band choreography and goofy song lyrics.  The energy and enthusiasm of the lead “singer” of the group broug

ht excitement to the audience, and the other four just made it sexy.  Five girls dressed as the clichéd boy band members: this one was definitely one of my favorites.  It was after this performance that we were introduced to Richard (“Dick” for short) Fitswell.  Dressed like your typical R&B singer, Dick unbuckled the belt holding up the pants containing the audience’s heart.  Though it did have some dull moments, the shooting star was definitely the climax (seriously), and kudos to Dick for being the first solo performance.  No assistance was necessary.

At the midpoint of the show, we met Marvin Zaas as Meatloaf and Ellen Damnation as that girl who sings with Meatloaf.  Their rendition of “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” was pretty impressive.  Though it is a very long song (there were times where the performance was losing it) it was purposely cut shorter, and that may have been responsible for its success—that cutting, and Ellen having the biggest boobs out of all the performers.  (Yeah, I crossed that line).

Now we come to my favorite performance of the night.  Everyone loves a little Esinem, and I think the audience loved his rendition of Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.”  The lips were in sync with the words, and the mimicked movements really embodied he who is the rapper known as Marshal Mathers.  The black eye was extensive—however, it sealed the deal and made this act my favorite.  The point I would like to make about this segment, though, is that I find it quite amusing that in a show full of sexual innuendo and crude gestures, they would find it necessary to bleep out the curse words of the song.  After Esinem, gangster, walked back to 8 Mile, Mixie returned to the stage with Charlie for a steamy yet skillful dance to “Hot Stuff.”  In her cocktail dress and dancing shoes, Mixie whirled and twirled as Charlie did what every man

 does when dancing: sat there and watched.  (I am just kidding, Charlie.  The dance moves you showed were just as good.)

After this, Richard Fitswell and Ta Quanda (from Heyonce Squared) came back on stage for another performance, with Chris McFeeley, as they nailed the Merry Men dance scene from Robin Hood: Men In Tights.  Kudos to those who performed more than one scene—especially Ta Qua

nda, who went on with the show despite a “wardrobe malfunction”.

Upon their exit, we were introduced to TheO, another solo act, set to the music of Barenaked Ladies. This performance was uplifting and more rock-out-with-a-certain-appendage-out.  Though the title of the song was “It’s All Been Done,” this could have not been more wrong.  The show could have remained entertaining for hours, but there are only so many LGBTA members.

It is after this performance when we got to the conclusion of the show, in which Alex is invited back on stage.  Now, Alex had been walking around in a trench coat all night.  Could it have been that he had something special on under it?  Maybe it was the clean-shaven legs that gave it away the surprise for me—rather than Alex coming back on stage, the crowd was treated to a cameo from Shirley Johnson.  With Shirley controlling the crowd and all the performers back on the stage for their curtain call, the Sexy Party had begun.

Upon the conclusion of all the performances members of the audience were allowed to come on stage and show their stuff to Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy.”  When the song ends the show is over right?  In this case, not if the LGBTA had anything to say about it.  The humping party on stage continued to the trance hit, Darude’s “Sandstorm.”  This capped off a terrific and entertaining show that was worth both of the two dollars I had donated.  As the humping party continued, I got up and headed towards the exit.  As I proceeded to leave the Arts Center, I thought to myself, “What a world we live in.  What a perfect time to be unsure of one’s sexuality, to be confused or to be worried about acceptance.”  There is always someone out there who is available to help and who knows what it’s like.  Great job, LGBTA!